Chapter 149 Deception

Chapter 149: Deception

Cheng Ge's movements suddenly froze, and Star Frost took the opportunity to break free from his clutches, slipping into his sleeve with a whoosh.

Rapid footsteps sounded from the corridor. The crown prince's apricot-yellow robe flickered in and out of view between the carved wooden windows, his sleeves flapping and stirring up a sharp wind.

Zhou Zhan's face was now dark enough to drip water, barely contained fury in his eyes.

The attendants following behind held their breaths, not daring to make a sound.

"You, Cheng Muyu..." Zhou Zhan hissed through clenched teeth, his long fingers clenched until they turned white. "How dare you deceive me time and again..."

He suddenly raised his hand and slammed it heavily against the corridor pillar, causing the copper bells on the eaves to clang. "This time I'll skin you alive!"

Yesterday, when he heard from Zhou Yinyun that Cheng Ge had already married, Zhou Zhan felt blood rush to his head.

Now that pent-up rage raged in his chest, burning his insides until they ached.

Last night in the Eastern Palace, he had torn three brocade quilts and shattered a floor full of fine official-ware teacups, yet still couldn't suppress the fiery anger in his heart.

"Hiding a concubine is bad enough..." Zhou Zhan kicked aside a flowerpot blocking his way, startling the sparrows in the tree to scatter. "But to actually marry behind my back!"

He suddenly grasped the coiled-dragon jade pendant on his chest, his knuckles turning blue from the force.

"What 'support each other in hard times'... what 'devoted couple'..." With each word his voice rose higher, until finally it was a roar squeezed from his throat. "Do you think I'm a fool?!"

"Bang!"

The door slammed open, crashing heavily against the wall, rattling the window frames.

"Cheng Muyu!" Zhou Zhan's eyes were wide, with terrifying red veins in them.

He stormed through the doorway, but the moment he saw the blood-red handkerchief at the bedside, he froze as if struck by lightning.

Cheng Ge lay weakly against the headboard, his face unnaturally pale, and he held a blood-stained handkerchief in his hand.

Cheng Ge looked up slowly at the noise, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

Who lit the fuse on this powder keg so early in the morning?

Seeing this, Zhou Zhan's pupils shrunk sharply. He crossed the room in a few strides, his voice trembling faintly.

"Muyu!!! How are you coughing up blood again?!" His voice suddenly pitched higher, his voice cracking with tears.

He desperately pressed the back of his hand to Cheng Ge's forehead, then felt his thin wrist, his movements so urgent they were almost rough.

"Where are the imperial physicians? Are they all dead?!" Zhou Zhan turned his head and roared. "Get the physician here now!!!"

He tore off the coiled-dragon jade pendant from his waist and threw it out the door. The crash of jade sent the attendants in the courtyard to their knees.

Cheng Ge: "???"

Cheng Ge had only meant to set aside the bloodied handkerchief; he hadn't anticipated Zhou Zhan bursting in.

Seeing his state, he must have gotten the wrong idea again. Cheng Ge quickly grabbed Zhou Zhan's wrist.

He called softly, "Your Highness..."

Hearing his voice, Zhou Zhan's reason returned slightly. He asked anxiously, "Is there somewhere you feel unwell?"

Cheng Ge shook his head repeatedly. "I am fine. I just coughed up some old blood this morning; the imperial physician already came by."

"You're coughing up blood and still saying it's nothing! It must be that those physicians are lazy and negligent. When I get back, I'll have my father replace them!"

"Your Highness, don't be angry," Cheng Ge said, offering a perfunctory reassurance.

He discreetly glanced at the attendants behind the crown prince and found that they were all empty-handed. Disappointment flashed across his face.

This guy came to visit a patient, but he just showed up empty-handed—he didn't even bother to bring any ginseng or lingzhi.

Zhou Zhan caught his gaze and looked back, but didn't notice anything unusual.

"Why are you gawking at those maids..." Halfway through his words, a sudden thought hit Zhou Zhan.

Could it be... that Cheng Ge had his eye on his maids?!

Zhou Zhan's eyes suddenly changed. His wide sleeves unfurled noiselessly, and the apricot-yellow cloud-patterned brocade perfectly blocked Cheng Ge's view.

Cheng Ge: "???"

Now what? Did he catch me?

Zhou Zhan's face showed nothing; he gave a light cough. "All of you, withdraw!"

His voice was neither light nor heavy; he lightly tapped his fingertip on the gilded incense burner.

"Yes..." The maids hastily lowered their heads and scurried out.

Seeing the maids leave, Zhou Zhan turned and slowly sat down on the edge of the couch.

Looking at Cheng Ge's pale lips, he asked carefully, "How are you now? Is there still any discomfort?"

Hearing this, Cheng Ge was about to say he was fine, then quickly swallowed the words.

Cheng Ge's eyes flickered, then he suddenly clutched his chest and coughed hard, his long lashes trembling, casting a fragile shadow on his pale face.

"Cough... I..." he spoke in a faint voice, his fingers gripping the brocade quilt. "Just feel... a tightness in my chest... I'm afraid I don't have much time left..."

As he spoke, he coughed heavily a few more times, as if he were about to cough up his entire insides.

Zhou Zhan panicked instantly, his eye sockets red with urgency. He had Cheng Ge lean half against him. "Muyu! Don't scare me!"

Cheng Ge blinked, forcing out two tears, and gently wiped them away in front of Zhou Zhan.

He sighed as if casually, "The medicinal herbs bought from outside pharmacies ultimately lack some potency..."

After saying this, he covered his mouth and coughed, secretly glancing at Zhou Zhan.

Zhou Zhan's trembling hand stroked Cheng Ge's back; what he felt were all bony joints. "Just tell me what medicinal herbs you need!"

Cheng Ge was extremely excited inside; his body trembled slightly, and a hint of red tinted the corners of his eyes.

Here it comes! Here it comes! The big payday is finally coming!!!

"I've heard... thousand-year ginseng..." Cheng Ge weakly leaned on his shoulder, quietly adjusting the blood-stained handkerchief to a more conspicuous spot.

"Someone! Bring that eight-hundred-year-old ginseng from the storehouse!" Zhou Zhan ordered urgently.

He added, "Also the purple lingzhi that Nanzhao paid tribute to the other day! And the snow lotus paste from the Western Regions—bring them all at once!" Cheng Ge reached out a hand as if to stop him. "Your Highness, this is against protocol..."

"What the hell are you talking about? This stuff isn't worth more than your life!" Zhou Zhan glared at him, but couldn't hide the concern in his eyes.

The eunuch took the order and left. Zhou Zhan sat back down by the bed, glancing at Cheng Ge's pale face, his brow furrowing deeper.

"Your complexion is so poor; it must be those cheap meds that set you back."

"It must be..." With that, Cheng Ge tilted his head slightly, letting a strand of hair fall perfectly onto his forehead, adding to his haggardness: "You're too kind, Your Highness, but I…"

"Cut it out with that nonsense." Zhou Zhan interrupted him, but carefully tucked the corner of his blanket.

"Just focus on recovering. If you need any medicine, just say the word. If it's not enough, I'll go ask Father for more."

Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Tomorrow I'll have the Imperial Medical Bureau send some top-quality bird's nest."

Cheng Ge pressed his lips tightly together and quickly turned his head away.

Damn! I almost couldn't keep from smiling!